Synopsis (Goodreads):
Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control—even when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority...My Thoughts: It's been a while since I read book 1 in this series. Wow. Things sure have changed for Elena since Raphael first walked into her life. She's a baby immortal now, strong and deadly, but still weak by the standards of older angels. She's the mate of one of the most powerful Archangel's alive and she's constantly amazed that he could love her as much as she loves him. She's made Raphael a little more human with her love and he's made her a whole lot more angelic.
They’ve barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena…
I really enjoyed the push and pull dynamic of Elena and Raphael's relationship. He's used to issuing orders and having them obeyed, she's a Hunter who won't lie down and just take it. They fight but they love one another so deeply, so consumingly that they are able to work through their issues. Thus far, at least. They're also beginning to open up to one another - Elena shares the nightmares of her past that have been unlocked by her transformation and Raphael tells her of his family and the horrible things he's seen. You know what they say, the couple that unburdens together has sizzling sex after. It's certainly true in this case.
I liked learning about the Refuge and the everyday lives of the other angels. I liked that Elena's warrior spirit wasn't crushed (although given how Raphael likes his women strong, this doesn't surprise me). I liked a whole lot of things. I did think that Lijuan's ball and the events in the Forbidden City moved very quickly. This book was more about Elena coming into her own as an angel and uncovering the betrayer in the midst of the Refuge than anything else. Lijuan's powers were interesting (in a gross sort of way) but they were secondary to Elena's journey.
Sexy and dark, I'm pretty excited to see the next leg of Elena and Raphael's relationship and learn more about his Seven. I will freely admit that the tidbits we were given about several of Rahpael's guards tickled my fancy. I want to see what makes them tick and how they end up with their own happily ever afters.
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Books in this series
1. Angels' Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss - Paperback | Kindle
3. Archangel's Consort
4. Archangel's Blade
Angels' Flight (0.5, 1.5, 4.5, 4.75)
5. Archangel's Storm
Author Links
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This is just the first review of many this week for the series, isn't it? I'm just going to sit back and WATCH FOR THE OTHER REVIEWS. Also, I listened to Angels' Blood on audio, but never went beyond that (probably because I'm lame). It was an intriguing world, though.
ReplyDeleteYep! By the end of the week, the entire series will be reviewed. Get ready for more angels and vampires than you can shake a stick at!
DeleteOooh ... this looks good!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've ever come to your blog and seen a review of the FIRST book in a series. You read a lot of series books!
*stops and thinks about that* Umm... well... you know, since Amanda and I did the Series Summer challenge, I haven't *started* many new series. Wait. That can't be right. Oh, these reviews are FROM the series summer challenge. So you're absolutely correct. Most of my recent ones are 2nd books or later. Huh. What do you know!
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